This article was last updated on Tuesday, December 8 to reflect additional commitments. It initially ran on Friday, December 4th.

As we look into this article, the Twitter filter we created to monitor COP21 climate change developments is being updated with a dizzying frequency – a storm of tweets made up of comments and broad commitments aimed at achieving a low-carbon future.

Many of the grand declarations related to the UN Conference of the Parties in Paris stem from a coalition of loosely organized private sectors that support specific goals. An interesting example is Divest for Paris, a group of 500 organizations, including Allianz, Europe's largest insurer, and the London School of Economics. What do they have in common? They all agreed to eliminate fossil fuel investments.

On Tuesday, the World Resources Institute (WRI) promoted the Science-Based Targets Initiative, an organization dedicated to guiding business priorities for sustainable development through the use of scientific data and evidence. hem rather than relying on marketing focus. At the press conference, 114 companies expressed their intention to participate. Of those, 10 companies have submitted (and been approved) specific carbon management targets, including Coca-Cola, Dell, Enel, General Mills, IKEA, Kellogg's, NRG Energy, Procter & Gamble, Sony, and Walmart.  

Such statements are certainly noticeable. Then again, from a public relations standpoint, more people are safer. When a goal is buried in a statement that encompasses dozens of other companies, it's relatively easy to avoid later criticism for failing to achieve it. This is unlikely to happen when an organization takes a stand, either alone or with industry peers.

With that in mind, here is a list of bold industry-related or company-specific action plans that are taking place in conjunction with the Paris climate talks. Check back for updates as the meeting unfolds.

Agriculture and food

Perhaps no other industry faces so many operational risks from climate change as important as food and agriculture. Companies that produce packaged food and beverages — Mars, Kellogg's, General Mills, PepsiCo, Monsanto, and Coca-Cola — rely heavily on supply chains that span the globe.

They are already feeling the effects of a warming climate on farmers, where there is a shortage of commodities or rising costs, and where droughts, floods or new pests adversely affect farmers. Many are activists of the Carbon Reduction Front: Mars was the first U.S. company to commit to 100% renewable energy.

At COP21, the biggest news for the industry was Monsanto's plan to achieve carbon neutrality across all of its operations by 2021 and produce carbon neutral or carbon-negative agricultural products. To achieve the latter, Monsanto said it would prioritize corn and soybean innovations so that the soil can hold enough greenhouse gases to offset the carbon impact of crops.

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